Emerging rail control technologies: Challenges and opportunities. Bill Palazzi

Transcription

1 Emerging rail control technologies: Challenges and opportunities Bill Palazzi 1

2 Overview 1. Current landscape of systems and technologies 2. What is going to change? 3. Industry initiatives to ensure a coherent outcome 4. Challenges and opportunities palazzirail 2

3 Current landscape The national rail freight network 8 primary below-rail companies (excluding geographically separate Pilbara and Tasrail networks) 50+ above-rail operators, including freight and passenger 3 gauges PTA PERTH Pilbara Railways: BHP, Fortescue, Rio Tinto, Roy Hill DARWIN Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA) John Holland Rail (JHR) Queensland Rail (QR) Aurizon BRISBANE Arc Infrastructure Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) ADELAIDE V/Line MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA Sydney Trains palazzirail 3 Tasrail HOBART

4 Current landscape Differing characteristics across the national network Railway Type Suburban Coal Interstate Regional Predominant traffic Typical train frequency No. of tracks No. of operators Consistency of routes Passenger, with some routes shared with freight Up to 20 trains per hour Double - Multiple Many, including urban shuttles and intercapital freight Urban shuttles one origin, many destinations Predominantly coal, some freight and passenger 3-5 trains per hour Double or Multiple Few, including some miners that operate trains Many origins, one destination in each area Freight (intercapital), some passenger trains per day Single or Double Few, dominated by Pacific National and SCT Relatively consistent operations Freight (grain, minerals), very little passenger 3-5 trains per week Single Many A diversity of origins and destination Size of operators Small - Large Large Large Small Large palazzirail 4

5 Current landscape Signalling and train control systems At least 11 different signalling and train control systems in use Each state or jurisdiction typically has its own rules more than 17 distinct safeworking systems. DARWIN Key: Signalling Rail Vehicle Detection or Centralised Train Control Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) Train Order Working (TOW) Manual WestCad Ansaldo STS Train Order System (TOS) Phoenix Train Order System (PTOS) Direct Traffic Control (DTC) Train Management and Control System (TMACS) with voice transmission TMACS with data transmission Staff and Ticket (S&T) PERTH palazzirail ADELAIDE BRISBANE SYDNEY CANBERRA MELBOURNE HOBART 5

6 Current landscape Modern systems and equipment Diagram of a track circuit, from Signal box with interlocking frame and levers, 1920s. Modern trackside signalling infrastructure, circa 2010 Graph and form used for Train Order Working, 2018 The concepts (and some of the technologies) in use today are largely unchanged from those established in the early 1900s palazzirail 6

7 What is going to change? From the old: conventional signalling Lots of trackside infrastructure No trainborne equipment Disparate elements Voice comms only Radio System Controller Control System Interlocking Driver Trackside Interface palazzirail Trackside Infrastructure Signal Track circuit section Track circuit connection Point machine 7

8 What is going to change? to the new: advanced signalling Minimal trackside infrastructure Equipment installed onto trains Controller Control System Onboard System Voice and data Radio comms System Interlocking / Authority Server Driver DMI Trackside Interface Trackside Infrastructure palazzirail Track circuit section Track circuit connection Point machine 8

9 What is going to change? Current initiatives that will impact on rail freight DARWIN Queensland Rail, Aurizon and Transport for NSW are implementing European Train Control System (ETCS) across their respective networks. BRISBANE PERTH ARTC is developing Advanced Train Management System (ATMS). The pilot is underway, and first implementation planned for Tarcoola to Parkeston. ADELAIDE palazzirail SYDNEY CANBERRA MELBOURNE HOBART John Holland Rail is continuing to enhance its existing TMACS Train Order Working system 9

10 What is going to change? Comparison of existing and planned systems Railway Type Suburban Coal Interstate Regional Existing network control systems Planned network control systems ETCS Signalling ctow TOW S&T ATMS enhanced TOW ctow = computer-assisted Train Order Working enhanced TOW = ctow with further safety and capacity upgrades palazzirail 10

11 Ensuring a coherent outcome What does a good outcome look like? Provides the required functionality for efficient rail operations Effective Upgradeable Systems must be supported, and must provides a pathway to further enhancements. The Rail Safety Act requires safety risks to be reduced So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable. Safe Scalable System(s) can be cost-effectively applied across all types of railways in a seamless way. Wherever one signalling and control system is used, the same safeworking rules are applied. Harmonised Interoperable Trains can operate over the network with only one onboard system for network control purposes. palazzirail 11

12 Ensuring a coherent outcome Can good be achieved with current systems and developments? Issue Safe Effective Upgradeable Scalable Interoperable Harmonised Achieved? Work to be done Work to be done Included in scope of TfNSW Digital Systems Program Will be an ongoing task Other challenges: Some initiatives are not yet proven, eg ATMS A number of network managers have not yet made any decision on systems What is the mechanism for fitment of locomotives? palazzirail 12

13 Challenges and opportunities Immediate benefits Above rail operator Improve safety of operations Reduce costs by: Minimising the number of safeworking systems in use Minimising the amount of equipment required in locomotives Savings in fuel and brake use Below rail network manager Improve safety of operations Improve safety for network maintenance Reduce costs by: Minimising the amount of trackside equipment Minimising the number of safeworking systems in use Improve network capacity Improve efficiency of network management palazzirail 13

14 Challenges and opportunities Further opportunities Better information Enhanced information on train movements Improved journey time reliability Better forecasting of arrival times Enable future enhancements Additional enhancements such as Driver Advisory Systems Provides a platform to move to single person crewing and semior full-automation What else? palazzirail 14

15 Summary Rail is moving into the 21 st century! The possibility exists to go from 17 systems nationwide to 3(+) and to avoid a digital break of gauge This change also opens up a range of opportunities, that will be of benefit to the industry, customers and to the nation. palazzirail 15